MOBILE, Alabama -- The Prichard police officer arrested Friday and charged with aggravated child abuse is believed to have attacked a 2-year-old girl multiple times while she stayed with him over the summer, according to the Mobile County Sheriff's Office.

Bryan Aadam Pearman, 24, has been charged with one count of aggravated child abuse in the case, a felony with a maximum sentence of 20 years.

Investigators say the 2-year-old victim sustained multiple injuries, including reported head injuries and bruising, while she was staying with Pearman over the summer, said Sgt. Joe Mahoney of MCSO.

"The injuries were consistent with really going above and beyond, you know, like a pat on the butt," Mahoney said. "I mean, what can a 2-year-old do to deserve that?"

Pearman joined the Prichard Police Department in October 2011. He graduated from the police academy in July 2012, according to posts to his social media page.

One year later, on July 30, a woman called the Child Advocacy Center to report Pearman had abused her 2-year-old daughter. The child's mother reported the suspected abuse after she and her daughter were reunited, Mahoney said.

"The investigation took a while, but the child was placed back with her mother and that gave us time to really strengthen our case," Mahoney said.

AL.com reports the officer had previously faced charges for shooting his neighbors dog with a .22 rifle as it was returning to its home after playing with some neighborhood children. AL.com notes Pearman "was set to go before a jury on March 22, 2010; however, the charge was instead dismissed with conditions."